Leinster have urgent business to attend to over the coming month, but the province has also been busy planning ahead and today announced two new signings for next year.
The Heineken Cup final clash with Northampton Saints at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 21 May, with a likely Magners League semi-final the week before, will occupy most of coach Joe Schmidt's attention over the coming weeks.
But today, he took time out to confirm that the services of Connacht wing Fionn Carr had been acquired for next season, and announced the signing of CA Brive second-row Damien Browne. He also announced extensions to the contracts of Richardt Strauss and Dominic Ryan.
The signing of Ireland Under-19, Under-21 and 'A' international Carr was expected. The Leinster Academy graduate is returning to his home province with the Connacht try-scoring record under his belt (34 in 72 Magners League/Challenge Cup games).
The 25-year-old will hope the added profile and potential exposure to Heineken Cup rugby will help him push for recognition at senior level next year, though with Leinster boasting an embarassment of riches in the wing and full-back positions, the Newbridge flyer will have his work cut out to play in the biggest games.
The arrival of Browne will offset the departure of 34-year-old Scotland international Nathan Hines, who is leaving for Clermont Auvergne next year.
The 30-year-old Galway native began his career with Connacht and also had a stint with Northampton Saints. He has featured in 30 games so for this season for French Top 14 outfit Brive.
South Africa-born Strauss, a key player in Leinster's journey to the Heineken Cup final, has extended his contract to 2013. That news may also interest Ireland head coach Declan Kidney and forwards coach Gert Smal as Strauss is expected to become Irish qualified around the end of 2012,
21-year-old flanker Ryan has missed out on Heineken Cup knockout squad selection since Chirstmas, with Shane Jennings favoured on the bench and Seán O'Brien, Kevin McLaughlin and Jamie Heaslip getting the nod to start. But he has played in many of Leinster's biggest games this year, including the Heineken Cup pool matches.
The future is considered to be very bright for the Gonzaga graduate, who has played in 22 games so far this year, scoring four tries between the Magners League and Heineken Cup, and lined out twice for Ireland 'A'.
He has signed a fresh two-year deal.
Leinster also announced that out-half Ian Madigan and centre Brendan Macken have also extended their current Leinster deals, while half-backs John Cooney and Ian McKinley have signed their first professional contracts with the province.
Commenting on the signings, Leinster coach Schmidt said: 'We are delighted to announce the signings of two Irish qualified players in Damian and Fionn and we believe that both players have the potential to make an impression over the coming season.
'I know how enthusiastic both players are about linking up this summer, in Fionn's case his arrival will be a homecoming of sorts as he is a graduate from the Leinster Academy.'
Schmidt also welcomed the decision to extend former Cheetah Strauss' deal, though he was quick to emphasise the importance of the Academy to Leinster's future.
He said: 'Richardt has been a key performer in the Leinster front row this year and his contract extension is a further boost in addition to other recent contract extensions.
'With the extensions and new contracts for the younger players it is important that we continue to retain our best underage talent from the Leinster Academy.'
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